The water level in the Narmada is yet again rising rapidly and is expected
to exceed 104 meters mark at Sardar Sarovar dam site. It would be recalled
that between 20th and 22nd August 2002 large scale submergence was caused
when the water levels at the dam site touched 103m. The waters that caused
this submergence is yet to recede and now due to incessant rain in the
Narmada catchment and this compounded by the release of over 2,70,000
cusecs of dam water from Tawa dam the water levels are further rising
engulfing in its wake more fields and houses of adivasis and farmers. There
is no doubt that this submergence will imply devastation for the dam
affected people, especially adivasis.

The Satyagrahi comrades are firm on the resolve to face the unjust
submergence. Main activists including Keshav Vasave, Dedlibai, Dadlia
Karbhari, Medha Patkar and hundreds of others are in Domkhedi to face the
submergence. The waters in Jalsindhi are also increasing. Kailash Awasia,
Luharia, Bawa and others from other villages affected are there at
Jalsindhi determined to face water. The people are challenging the
injustice, facing the dam waters and are resolved not to move out even if
they are to sacrifice their lives- for the protection of the people and
nature in the valley.

The submergence is a result of the illegal, unjust increase in the height
of the dam ­ first from 85 to 90 meters and then to 95 meters, violating
the provisions of Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) Award regarding
displacement and resettlement. About 8000 families in 70 villages in Madhya
Pradesh will be affected adversely. In Maharashtra the recently finished
Task Force study has stated that atleast 1000 families yet to be
rehabilitated below 95 meters height and the number may increase!

This was also in violation of the directions of the Supreme Court order of
October 2000. However, the Court did not act against this illegal act, even
when the Narmada Bachao Andolan had approached the Court in May 2002. The
people also have approached the Grievance Redressal Authority of M.P.,
Justice (Retd) Sohoni, on August 28, with these ghastly facts. But he chose
to buy time. The Narmada Valley Development Authority chooses to ?advice?
the affected people that they can approach the Grievance Redressal
Authority with their problems!

The Sardar Sarovar and other dams in the Narmada valley are a crying shame
for the human rights, justice and sustainable development in India. They
represent depraved attitude and fraud by the political leadership in India
and a gross failure of other Constitutional agencies to protect the
fundamental rights of the depressed people of India. Narmada Bachao Andolan
opposes this barbarous game with the lives of the people and with the law
and justice and demands for the immediate release of water by opening all
the gates.